Bob Brookover

COLUMNIST

Sports columnist Bob Brookover joined the Inquirer in 2000 as the Phillies beat writer after long stints in the same role with the Camden Courier-Post and the Delaware County Daily Times. He also served as the National League columnist for ESPN. He made the move from rawhide to pigskin in 2003 and covered the Eagles for seven years before returning to his roots as the Inquirer's baseball columnist in 2010. He became a general sports columnist in 2013 and loves covering a variety of sports and events.

Update: The Phillies have called up lefthander Jeremy Horst and designated Chad Qualls for assignment. Qualls was roughed up in Wednesday's 11-7 loss to the Pirates, allowing three runs on three hits in one inning of work.

Overall, Qualls was 1-1 with a 4.60 ERA in 35 appearances this year. Over the last 29 games, he posted a 5.68 ERA, and opponents hit .333 against him.

Horst has gone 2-1 with two saves and a 2.11 ERA in 26 games with the IronPigs this season. Since April 28, Horst has posted a 1.61 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 27.1 innings for Lehigh Valley. The 26-year-old made 12 relief appearances with the Cincinnati Reds last season, posting a 2.93 ERA in 15.1 innings.

He will wear No. 47 for the Phillies.

From earlier:

The bullpen pitcher du jour is Brian Sanches.

The Phillies called up the righthander from triple-A Lehigh Valley Thursday morning in time for their afternoon series finale with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Sanches, 33, replaced Joe Savery, who was optioned to the Iron Pigs after pitching 2 2/3 innings during Wednesday night's 11-7 loss that featured six Phillies relievers.

This will be Sanches' second stint with the big-league club this season. He appeared in three games in early May and allowed five earned runs on nine hits in four innings.

Given the fact that everyone except closer Jonathan Papelpon pitched out of the bullpen Wednesday night, there's a decent chance Sanches will make an appearance against the Pirates.

Sanches was 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA in 21 appearances at Lehigh Valley and had walked only five batters in 32 2/3 innings. He was 2-1 with a 1.15 ERA in his last 10 appearances for the Iron Pigs.